Research-backed game lineage
Mortal Kombat is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.
Release chronology
Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.
17 games in this lineage
Mortal Kombat is a side-scrolling fighting game. Fighting is set as one-on-one combat, allowing each player to perform a variety of punches, kicks, and special moves in order to defeat their opponent. When the opponent faces their second round loss, the winner can perform a finishing move called a "Fatality" on the loser. The Fatality is a move unique to each fighter that graphically kills the loser in a blood-soaked finale.
Mortal Kombat II is a fighting game originally developed by Midway for arcades in 1993. It serves as the second main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and follows the success of its predecessor by enhancing the gameplay and further developing the original game's mythos. Mortal Kombat II introduces more varied finishing moves and several iconic characters, such as Kitana, Mileena, Kung Lao, the hidden character Noob Saibot, and the series' recurring villain, Shao Kahn.
Mortal Kombat 3 brings new elements to the 2D fighting series: multi-level playfields, "Dial-A-Combo" attacks, a "Run" button to speed up the battles, and "Vs." codes, which unlock new powers and abilities once both players enter a code sequence in pre-match-up screens. Also included are more stage fatalities and finishing moves as each warrior attempts to go one-on-one with the Centaurian enforcer Motaro, and Shao Kahn himself.
Mortal Kombat 4 is 1 vs 1 fighting game, similar to the other Mortal Kombat games, but this is first game in series with 3D characters models. The player can choose from 15 different fighters at the start (and several unlockables later on). Many fighters from earlier games in the series make a comeback (like Scorpion, Sub Zero, Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage etc.) while other new fighters join in, like Shinook (who is the main evil character in this game), Fujin, Jarek, and Kai. Goro returns as a boss.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero is a story-driven fighting game that casts you in the shoes of Sub-Zero, and chronicles a series of events that occurred prior to Mortal Kombat 1. It is the first Mortal Kombat game to feature side-scrolling gameplay. Gameplay wise the game takes the Mortal Kombat familiar 2D fighting environment and turns it into a hybrid fighter/platformer game, where you must travel trough hazardous levels running and jumping around as well as fighting your way against both digitized and polygonal enemies. Sub-Zero's interface is the same as in every MK game, with the addition of a "use" and "turn around" buttons and additions such as an inventory, and a slight RPG twist in which you get exp. for defeating opponents, which translates into new techniques and moves to execute in the game.
Take on the role of Mortal Kombat character Jax, as you descend into the realm of Mortal Kombat in search of arch- villain, Kano. As you make your way through the game, you will delve deeper into one of the most interesting and enigmatic stories in the Mortal Kombat universe. Battle your way through complex 3D levels. Destroy your enemies using never-before-seen special moves and combos, all leading to an unforeseen climactic ending.
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is the first Mortal Kombat outing on the next-gen systems. New to DA is a completely revamped fight engine. The graphics are in full 3D and feature somewhat interactive environments. Each character now has different fighting stances, allowing them to be in an offensive stance or a fatality stance. Returning from past games are all your favorite fighters, and a host of new ones. Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, joined by such newcomers as Molloch and Quan Chi. Each character has their own specific fatalities.
Mortal Kombat: Deception is the sixth installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise. Based on the Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance engine, players once again have to fight to stop this new threat in the sixth installment of the fighting series. The standard Arcade, Versus, and Practice modes return, as well as new items to be found in the Krypt. In addition, there are new Konquest Adventure, Chess Kombat, and Puzzle Kombat modes to give the player new mini-games. The Playstation 2 and Xbox versions offer online, competitive play against other players. The Gamecube version does not include online play, but offers Goro and Shao Kahn as exclusive playable characters.
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks is an action-adventure beat 'em up video game set in the Mortal Kombat universe. Players take on the roles of the iconic Shaolin monks Liu Kang and Kung Lao, either solo or in cooperative mode, as they defend Earthrealm against the threats of Outworld. The game offers a reimagining of the storyline from Mortal Kombat II.
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon brags a roster of 62 characters and sees the return of classic ones from the original Mortal Kombat, such as Reptile, Shang Tsung and Goro. The enhanced Konquest mode (story/adventure mode) improves over the preceding versions, but has a shorter length. There are now 64 arenas (including revamped versions of classic environments) which each have their own tweaks, such as the ridiculous amount of stage fatalities (fatalities are a fancy way of killing your opponent, including classic techniques such as the "spine-rip" or "arm-break").
↗ 
In this arcade-style fighting game, both DC and Mortal Kombat universes are represented by 10 champions each, and one "boss" character, for a total of 22 fighters. Play is similar to the 2D Mortal Kombat games (with some 3D elements), focusing more on the special move aspect than the complex combos found in the previous three games (Deadly Alliance, Deception, Armageddon). As with any Mortal Kombat game, Fatalities are still present for the Kombatants and villains, though slightly toned down to meet the DC standards of heroes such as Superman and Batman keeping to their moral code and not killing their opponent. As a result, the DC heroes perform "Heroic Brutalities", which effectively put their opponent out of commission.
Mortal Kombat is a 2011 fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios. It is the ninth main installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and a soft reboot of the series. Although beginning during the events of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, the plot retroactively revisits the earliest period in the Mortal Kombat series: the events of the first three games. The storyline follows Raiden, the divine protector of Earth, as he attempts to change the outcome of the Armageddon events by contacting his past self.
Mortal Kombat X is the tenth main game in the one-on-one fighting series and a sequel to the 2011 title Mortal Kombat. The game stays close to the visual style and the mechanics of the 2011 reboot. The main controls are still based on two types of punches and kicks, and blocking, to form combos with uppercuts, teleports, special moves that incorporate weapons and fatalities. The three-tiered energy from the previous title returns, making available X-Ray moves, powered up EX moves and combo breakers. As introduced in Injustice: Gods Among Us, characters can use the environment to re-position themselves or optionally use parts as weapons. Each character now has three variations with different moves and weapons. There is once again a sprinting gauge, returning from Mortal Kombat 4.
Mortal Kombat is back and better than ever in the next evolution of the iconic franchise. The all new Custom Character Variations give you unprecedented control of your fighters to make them your own. The new graphics engine showcases every skull-shattering, eye-popping moment, bringing you so close to the fight you can feel it. Featuring a roster of new and returning Klassic Fighters, Mortal Kombat's best-in-class cinematic story mode continues the epic saga over 25 years in the making.
A new era has begun. It's In Our Blood. Discover a reborn Mortal Kombat Universe created by Fire God Liu Kang. Mortal Kombat 1 ushers in a new era of the iconic franchise with a new fighting system, game modes, and Fatalities!
Step into the visually-stunning and over-the-top world of Mortal Kombat through a brand-new RPG experience, filled with action-packed group battles! Mortal Kombat: Onslaught launches you into a new, mobile exclusive cinematic story where legends collide and unlikely alliances are forged. Join the fight today to stop a dark and dangerous villain from wreaking havoc across the realms. For the first time in Mortal Kombat history, unleash total mayhem as you’re pitted against your foes in fast-paced RPG melee battles of up to 10 characters at once! Assemble the most powerful teams of experienced champions like Raiden, Liu Kang, and Scorpion to master your kombat skills and ensure your survival.
No games use that relationship label.
Sources and method
Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.
IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for Mortal Kombat and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.
The independent catalog recognizes Mortal Kombat as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.